Indonesian Rainforests

Greenpeace is campaigning to prevent the reckless destruction of Indonesia’s remaining rainforests. We are doing so to protect endangered wildlife like the Sumatran tiger and orangutan, support forest communities, and to stop greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. In February 2013, after significant public pressure and negotiations with Greenpeace, Asia Pulp and Paper published a new “Forest Conservation Policy” which, if implemented, could spell the end of its long and controversial history of rainforest destruction. Greenpeace will be monitoring APP closely to ensure these commitments are met.

The Indonesian government estimates that over one million hectares of forest are being cleared every year, one of the highest rates of forest destruction in the world. The conversion of rainforests to tree plantations for pulp and palm oil production is a leading cause of this deforestation.

Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL) is destroying the Sumatran tiger’s remaining habitat to make disposal tissue and paper products. An incredible 60 per cent of fibre supply to APRIL's Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) pulp mill in Indonesia is rainforest wood. And in 2012, APRIL planned to feed its Sumatran pulp mill by trashing another 60,000 hectares of rainforest – an area nearly the size of Singapore.

Sumatran Tiger numbers in the wild have dipped perilously low to less 400. At current rates of destruction, the Sumatran tiger is likely to follow its predecessors, the Javanese and Bali tigers, into extinction.

Many global brands previously suspended contracts with APP and introduced policies that ensure environmentally responsible sourcing after a wave of public pressure inspired by Greenpeace. These companies include Kraft, Nestlé, Unilever, Corporate Express, Adidas, Staples and, most recently, Lego and Mattel.

How Greenpeace works to save Indonesia’s rainforests

Exposing companies that do business with rainforest destroyers: We are engaging large corporate customers to put in place policies that support the use of environmentally responsible pulp and paper products and those that contain palm oil.

Engaging individual consumers: Canadians do not want products that come from endangered Sumatran tiger habitat. We are helping consumers avoid products that come from rainforest destruction.

Supporting Indonesia: Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono has committed to prioritize rainforest protection for the rest of his presidency. Greenpeace is supporting his leadership and working with his government to make this happen.

Providing solutions: Rainforest destruction is not the only way. Sustainable forest products are possible. Greenpeace has an international track record of providing solutions for forests and the people who inhabit them. We have already convinced APP’s sister company and palm oil producer, Golden Agri Resources (GAR) to take steps to reduce their impact on their forests of Indonesia. And more recently APP published a new “Forest Conservation Policy” which, if implemented, could spell the end of its long and controversial history of rainforest destruction. We will continue to monitor their actions.

Earlier this week, we released some sad, shocking footage showing the slow and gruesome death of a Sumatran tiger that became trapped within an Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) concession in Sumatra's Riau province. The video...